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Weaning From Breastfeeding?

Here's How To Wean Your Baby

Some babies simply quit, some need a controlled weaning off breastfeeding. Learn when and how.

Maybe you just can't wait to start weaning your baby from breastfeeding. Or you don't want to do it at all, but feel that you have to for various reasons.

Did you now that the World Health Organization or WHO recommends mothers to continue breastfeeding at least for two years?

In reality most moms in developed countries stop breastfeeding their babies much earlier than that. Research shows that babies need to be breastfed for some 4 to 6 months to really get part of all benefits of breastfeeding. So if you can, at least breastfeed during your baby first half year.

But if you want and can continue to breastfeed, go ahead! Don't let anyone else (than maybe your baby...) put pressure on you to stop!

Anyway, there will be a time when you'll want to or have to wean from breastfeeding.

For a smooth ride, check our tips below.

When should I stop breastfeeding?

There is no "should". Not for complete weaning anyway. Of course, in some cases mom needs to stop breastfeeding for medical reasons, but that is a special case. Even then, a pediatrician or obstetricians might be able to find a drug that is safe to use while breastfeeding - remember to always ask twice!

Even if you need to go back to work or have to travel a lot with your job, you can continue breastfeeding in the morning and evening or when you're not traveling. Bring a pump while traveling to stimulate milk production.

What is generally recommended for babies is to start with solid foods at some point around 6 months old. This means that your process to stop nursing will start by then if not earlier.

So, the choice is yours - and your baby's. If you let your baby decide (so called baby-led weaning), it will definitely be a gradual process, probably stretching over several months and can continue for several years if you wish.

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How to do it?

One of the best ways to begin weaning from breastfeeding is to gradually replace one nursing session with a single formula feed or solid food, depending on your baby's age.

For tips on how to help your baby accept bottle-feeding, click here.

If you stop breastfeeding while introducing solid foods, don't plan to take the breast away completely during one feed until your baby has started to eat a complete baby portion of food. Otherwise, he'll leave the table hungry! You can of course replace a breastfeeding session with a combination of solid foods and formula, but don't introduce both at the same time, that can be a bit too much new stuff for you infant.

When one formula feed of serving of solid foods works well and you observe no reaction from your breasts or your baby, you may proceed to replace another breastfeeding session within a few days.

When you start feeding formula milk or solid foods to your infant, you should watch how they react to it. Generally, when babies can't adapt to some foods, they show several symptoms like vomiting, spitting, crying, gas, body rashes, redness on the rectum, runny nose, watery stools and wheezing.

If your baby mainly breastfeed at night and that's the last part of the weaning process left, try to let him sleep with you partner instead. If your partner has to feed him at night, offer formula or water. If it works to offer him only his pacifier or possibly water, many old enough babies (usually older than 6-8 months), start sleeping through the night real quickly using this method, and fast! I know many moms who have discovered this with great surprise.

While putting an end to breastfeeding, you should also remember to take care of your breasts as well by wearing a supportive bra. If you wean your baby from your breast quickly, the risk of getting mastitis is much higher. If your breasts become engorged, express some milk, but don't empty your breast. If you do, this will be a signal for the breast to produce even more milk, completely contra productive if you want to stop breastfeeding.

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How will I feel?

To stop breastfeeding can be a relief or actually kind of a sorrow. A very special episode is about to end.

A mother breastfeeding her baby can be a very sacred bond and if you do feel sad about it, it is completely natural. Take your time if possible. While there are cases when the baby decides one day that enough is enough, most babies certainly won't mind a slow process.

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